thanks very much for commenting on Black Christmas - really pleased that you liked it. Apologies for not responding sooner - I really must get my act together in 2016. Cheers
Ian
Comment is about Martin Elder (poet profile)
Original item by Martin Elder
thanks very much for commenting on Black Christmas - really pleased that you liked it. I always understand what you're saying Cynthia - you hold a much respected place amongst the 'commentators' on WOL and I always feel I've learned from your insights.Apologies for not responding sooner - I really must get my act together in 2016. Cheers
Ian
Comment is about Cynthia Buell Thomas (poet profile)
Original item by Cynthia Buell Thomas
Tue 5th Jan 2016 15:10
After 40+ years of smoking I can see all of this...given up now...
Comment is about Blurred as Smoke (blog)
Original item by Pranav
Oh so horribly true - is an evil vice I can't shift! Well written x
Comment is about Blurred as Smoke (blog)
Original item by Pranav
Thank you Martin for reading & commenting on Freak! - I think we all hide behind disguises of one form or another xx
Comment is about Martin Elder (poet profile)
Original item by Martin Elder
Hello Harry - it is quite possible our own 'plane was an
Ilyushin...the name was popular then. You will certainly
have your own memories: I have mine. The sheer scale
of the city streets and their monuments; the impressive
large stores (in size) and their windows containing row
upon row of the SAME item; the Hermitage - and the Summer Palace (rebuilt from shattered walls upward in
a monumental feat of recreation "as was"; the foolish
woman in our Intourist coach crowd on a visit to the
latter who had the film torn from her camera (NO PHOTOGRAPHS ALLOWED!) by a machine-gun toting Red Guard; the view from the hotel room across the River
Neva where the cruiser Aurora (fired the shot that preceded the October revolution) lay moored; the visits
to the Kirov and the Russian State Circus...so much
crammed into a brief visit but the images and the
brief contacts with its people linger still. To add a note
of levity allied to just maybe some reality, my chum and
I would be sure to praise in v. loud tones the country
and its people when in the confines of our hotel accommodation. It may have helped us to wander
freely as we seemed to do when out and about. But
then again, we were never approached to test our
sympathies.
I think of my visit when reading the posts of those
who seem obsessed about our own "failings" - and I am reminded of the words "What do they know of
England who only England know?"
Comment is about LENINGRAD - a Cold War memory (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Aside from just being a dammed good poem I love the comparisons you make. I tried to write something similar myself a couple months back but it just didn't work. However this definitely does.
Comment is about Asylum (blog)
Original item by David Blake
J Graham
Tue 5th Jan 2016 11:06
J Graham
Tue 5th Jan 2016 02:18
M.C.
Your your story about the guy with the screwdriver takes me back fifty years to when - as a young E.C. member of my union I went as a Fraternal Delegate to post revolution Hungary (my first ever flight) the plane
was an IIyushin. The wing-tips moved that much that it seemed we were flying like a bird
During a stop in Brussels we came back to the plane and saw the pilot sitting on the steps looking so worried that we nearly didn`t carry on.
Hungary - at that time - was enough to put anyone off being a communist for life. (I could write a book about the delegation)
Leningrad at that time must have been quite an experience.
Comment is about LENINGRAD - a Cold War memory (blog)
Original item by M.C. Newberry
Oh dear - did you make it to the end?! Hope I haven't offended your sensitive nature Tommy xx
Comment is about Trumpets, Burglars & Puddles (blog)
Original item by Pixievic
I nearly fainted when it came to 'Spunk trumpets '
Comment is about Trumpets, Burglars & Puddles (blog)
Original item by Pixievic
made me chuckle then think. a good response!
Comment is about SOME BRIGHT SPARK (blog)
Original item by ray pool
i like this. simple and catchy and it tells me a lot in a few words.
Comment is about I fell in love with a noun (blog)
Original item by Leorah Rohnaz
Mon 4th Jan 2016 11:53
The above poem is not meant to be a comment, just a poem that I have put in the wrong place...
Comment is about Patrick Rushe (poet profile)
Original item by Patrick Rushe
Mon 4th Jan 2016 11:33
The Smile
Skeleton praise
For who I am
And what the pen will say.
I belong;
And belong in a different way.
Inherent,
From the outset,
Curling cold
From tongues that split
In shades
Of blue and ice to form
On lips whose root
Is from the scarred mind.
Oblivious to truth
And scattered liberalism
Flawed,
For freedom is in the freed mind
And not,
The acting out
Of freedom
But,
The journey
From the darkness
Through to Light.
Bitterness,
It seems,
Still reigns in liberated hearts
And packs a punch
In the smile that,
Behind,
Is filled with it.
Freedom,
Real freedom,
Is from the self
And in not the embrace
Of blindness…
Comment is about Patrick Rushe (poet profile)
Original item by Patrick Rushe
Mon 4th Jan 2016 11:04
Thanks Martin I was trying for a cinematic style, and the ending is always key to that ! Ray
Comment is about SHE KNOWS HIS WANTS (blog)
Original item by ray pool
ginsberg yes! i love the beats, especially Kerouac. reading 'on the road' was quite a transformative event in my life.howl is wonderful, especially read live (harder to get on board on paper but live you get the sense more of the breathing and the rhythm of the piece). and yes, bukowski is a huge influence. he had the knack of being interesting enough that when he wrote about mundanity it became interesting. that is what we are all striving for in my view.
Comment is about Scarlet (poet profile)
Original item by Scarlet
At the York event there will be a sign-up list for poets to perform poems in solidarity. Free admission but there will be a donation bucket for the work of Amnesty International. Visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/1657068154532648/ for more details.
Comment is about Worldwide readings planned in support of Palestinian poet facing death sentence in Saudi Arabia (article)
Original item by Greg Freeman
You are as always so very right. Yes, it is in essence throwing down the gauntlet, but one thrown down in sheer frustration at what the world desires at this time of year.
Complacency for world events, conformity in ones own understandings of governance. And a merry free for all with false blessings, outdated beliefs and a snide deceit upon each other that the fellowship of man is unbreakable and bonded in love.
It is absolute bulshit!
Now before I grab your hand and start reciting something about old acquaintances and all of that, I am off to do the one thing I am truly grateful for at this time of year. Getting Shitfaced.
Still, I hope one day the world becomes responsible for itself, not in mine or your lifetime i fear.
Happy Ones David.
Comment is about The Future Harvest (blog)
Original item by Noetic-fret!
Thanks Tommy - my mind is indeed like an attic - full of useless junk with the odd treasure hidden in the cobwebs! X
Comment is about Tommy Carroll (poet profile)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
Hi Martin, thanks for taking a look at 'Backwaters' and the kind comment. Pleased to know I still have 'it', whatever 'it' might be! :)
Comment is about Martin Elder (poet profile)
Original item by Martin Elder
Thanks for the kind comment on 'Backwaters' Stu. And keep up the good work yourself! ;)
Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)
Original item by Stuart Buck
But now I shall unpack it
From the attic of my mind
Pull it out into the light
From the place it's been consigned
Sweet
Comment is about Pixievic (poet profile)
Original item by Pixievic
Thanks again Stu! I wrote a poem two years ago about 'Gold' and now I seem to be addicted to poems about metal. Probably something chemical they've put in the water.
Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)
Original item by Stuart Buck
Made me laugh, Declan. Excellent.
Comment is about The Gap on the Bap (blog)
Original item by Declan Grimes
great poem Ray, its peaks of a race to me
'her pistons pulse she starts to purr' rounds it off nicely for me.
Comment is about SHE KNOWS HIS WANTS (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Lady Denyse
Sun 3rd Jan 2016 14:47
But, alas! there is... surely, you read the poem, sir?
Comment is about (blog)
Original item by Tommy Carroll
There are some great lines her . particular the first two
'on some mute stale waste ground'
Comment is about Backwaters (blog)
Original item by David Blake
Thanks all for the unexpected praise here. David, I asked you to comment on this , and you did nothing that was not sincerely felt - and it made me think - can't be bad. I will try an update as it's a challenge. (post virus).
Lady Denyse, I particularly like to please a lady so thanks a lot.
Stu, We all like a good line when it comes! Sometimes, the opposite of the expected can be most effective ( I hope). Thanks a lot.
Comment is about SHE KNOWS HIS WANTS (blog)
Original item by ray pool
she lies, perfection on the ground.
that line is gold-dust. you should be proud of it.
great stuff as ever, whenever it was written.
Comment is about SHE KNOWS HIS WANTS (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Lady Denyse
Sun 3rd Jan 2016 13:49
I liked how you ended this. The whole piece speaks with perpetual motion; albeit, elements of darkness, but, I enjoyed it. ~Denise
Comment is about SHE KNOWS HIS WANTS (blog)
Original item by ray pool
Lady Denyse
Sun 3rd Jan 2016 13:41
I felt a chill, and a great release of emotion. Beautifully written.
Comment is about Backwaters (blog)
Original item by David Blake
Thanks so much for those detailed considerations. This was written about four years ago. I can see in the light of your comments that I was going from a tell tale style that had elements of humour, but a bit wandering and losing impact. Thanks , I'm glad you like the general idea - a bit weird but I hope I havn't lost that ingredient!!
I think simple and direct always wins with poetry.
I feel you're roaring ahead in your writing. Feet on the ground , head in the air type of thing!!
I'll give this another whirl in the current mindset.
Cheers David.
Comment is about SHE KNOWS HIS WANTS (blog)
Original item by ray pool
this is excellent. mysterious with a great use of language. 'nascent flames flicker' just rolls beautifully.
Comment is about Backwaters (blog)
Original item by David Blake
Thank You so much..J Graham for reading this..:)
Yes,we can relate that.I just wanted to redefine love,which is existing everywhere..:)
Ravi
Comment is about Happy New Year (blog)
Original item by Ravi Tanna
J Graham
Sun 3rd Jan 2016 02:01
J Graham
Sun 3rd Jan 2016 01:54
I enjoyed reading this :)
Love the line about painting on the sea sand, we can all relate to that line.
Comment is about Happy New Year (blog)
Original item by Ravi Tanna
Thanks for your appreciation J, for me trees never stop being beautiful what ever the season what ever their state. we need to make sure that we are good stewards of them all as well as the rest of the earth's resources.
Comment is about Trees (blog)
Original item by Martin Elder
Thanks for your comments guys much appreciated.
Comment is about The enemy (blog)
Original item by Martin Elder
Oh my. Finally a living modern day poet who I can get on board with. I was beginning to give up hope. You are incredibly talented. We also appear to share some of the same influences (Plath and Bukowski) which may also be why I love your writing. I see some Ginsberg influence in there as well? Amazing. Thanks so much for sharing.
Comment is about Stuart Buck (poet profile)
Original item by Stuart Buck
Ian Whiteley
Tue 5th Jan 2016 16:02
thanks very much for commenting on Black Christmas - really pleased that you liked it. The profession is a hard one - and mothers would never want their sons to go down a mine - but, as I learned from school mates - sometimes that's all there was in order to make a living - at a time when there was a stigma to the alternative - being on the dole. Apologies for not responding sooner - I really must get my act together in 2016. Cheers
Ian
Comment is about M.C. Newberry (poet profile)
Original item by M.C. Newberry